Author's Note: You know, it makes me sadder each time I say this so do I really have to? I do? Fine, I don't own Pride and Prejudice. I hope your happy now!

Chapter 6

I grabbed my book bag and pulled out all my schoolbooks, replacing them with extra clothes, money, my sketchbook, and some reading material. I ran into the bathroom and put all my cosmetics into a travel case, which I threw into my backpack.

"Are you leaving?"

I spun around and saw Mags leaning against the bathroom door. I had complete forgotten our rooms shared this bathroom.

"Please don't rat on me," I whispered, looking around, "I just need to get out of here for a while."

"I won't breathe a word, but I have some advice," Mags said, "Leave through my window. Use the roof to hop onto the tree branches and climb down the tree. It's the safest and quietest way out because Mom and Dad sleep on the other side of the house."

"Do I want to know how you know this?" I asked with a smile.

"Hey, you're not the only one who needed a break around here," said Mags with a shrug, "Where will you go?"

"Nonna and Grandpa's house in Wilmington," I said as I put my brush in the bag, "I don't know how long I'll be there but I'm leaving a note."

I gave Mags a hug and waited until the house was quiet. While waiting, I wrote a note to my dad to let him know where I was.

Dear Dad,

By the time you get this, I'll be gone. Please don't worry about me, I'm safe and sound. I plan to go to Nonna and Grandpa's house and I ask that you give me some time away. I have a lot to think about and I think you do too. Mother has been acting badly, this much is obvious, but you can help her. Be the rock of the family and be the one to give the twins punishments. Tell Mother not to get the breast augmentation. I know that you can do this because I know you're a strong person.

Everything has changed since we moved here. I don't know how or why, but it did. Maybe Mother felt pressure to fit in or maybe she was too weak to fight off the twin's loud personalities. All I know is that, in my opinion, moving here was the worst thing we could have done. Please make sure we don't all pay for it.

Your loving daughter,

Emily

I tip-toed silently into the kitchen, put the note on my dad's placemat at the table, and snuck back upstairs without making a sound. Looking around my room one last time, I went into Mags' room to find her on her desktop editing some film.

"I need you to hold down the fort while I'm away, all right?" I asked as my younger sister got up.

"I'll try," she said quietly and hugged me tightly.

I threw my bag over my shoulder and climbed out the window. Mags watched as I carefully walked to the branches, swung down, and landed on the ground. I waved to her and walked. I was headed to the train station where I'd go to Philly and take another train into Wilmington, Delaware. As I walked, I called my Nonna and Grandpa on my cell phone.

"Hello?" my Nonna answered the phone.

"Nonna, this is Emily."

"Emily? Oh my goodness child, how are you?"

"I'm okay Nonna. Listen, can I stay with you for a while?"

"Of course honey, what's the matter? Is everything all right?"

"I'll tell you everything when I get there. I'm taking the train to Philly and then to Wilmington. Could one of you pick me up there?"

"Yes Emily, Grandpa will be there when you arrive. How are your parents? Do they know where you are?"

"Nonna, I really don't want to talk about that right now, please understand that I need...Nonna, I'm so confused and upset and-"

"Don't work yourself into a fit now, Grandpa will be there and we'll talk when you get here. I love you darling."

"Love you too Nonna."

I hung up the phone and walked quicker. Upon arriving at the station, I paid for my ticket. The train ride wasn't crowded because it was the last train to the city. I just hoped that I would make the train to Wilmington otherwise I'd be stuck in downtown Philly at night, not the best place in the world to be.

Luckily, after a lot of running and quick paying, I made the train. It wasn't a terribly long ride but I was so tired by the time I got off the train. I saw my grandfather right outside the station in his old Ford pickup. I waved him over and he took my bag and threw it in the back. We drove in silence as I felt myself drifting off. Finally, we arrived at the house.

It was a small house with two floors. Everything was neat and tidy and, as soon as I walked in, I felt a wave of relief wash over me. Nonna came in and embraced me like I was her own daughter. She was my father's mother and, for reasons unknown to me, my father didn't get along with his parents that well.

"Oh honey, come here and tell me everything."

I was so overwhelmed with all of this that I began to cry. Now usually I'm not one to cry but I hadn't had an adult to talk to in years. I told my grandparents everything from the changes my mother went though to my dad's reluctance to do anything. I explained how the twins had taken over the household and Jess going to London to try and make amends with Brian. After I had finished, they just sat there with me and comforted me. Then I was sent to bed and slept like I had never before.

Groaning, I opened my eyes and smelled the air with a frown. Bacon, eggs, and…biscuits? I pulled the covers off of me and went down the stairs into the kitchen to find my Nonna making breakfast. Grandpa was reading the paper at the table but put it down when he saw me standing in the doorway.

"How did you sleep?" he asked and my Nonna looked up and grinned at me.

"Fine thanks," I said, running my fingers through my hair, "Is that bacon? Like real, fried bacon?"

"Of course dear, you didn't think we'd feed you tofu, did you?" She laughed at my apparent confusion and continued, "Pull up a chair and breakfast will be ready in just a couple minutes."

I sat next to my grandfather and watched as he did the crossword puzzle. My dad just read the articles, he never did the puzzles in them. He would leave his paper on the table and Jess would take it up to her room and do it in an hour. I was never good at them and would always have to ask Jess for help. I really missed her, especially now.

Breakfast was the tastiest and fattiest I had in ages. Nonna had made a bacon, egg, and cheese biscuit breakfast sandwiches for all of us and we actually sat down and talked. No one was rushing anywhere or trying to beat rush hour traffic. I actually laughed at something someone said that was funny and not also sarcastic.

"Now Emily, today we were thinking we'd show you the biggest sight around here, for us at least," Nonna said, "It's not as famous as the Liberty Bell or anything, but it holds a lot of memories."

"What is it?" I asked eagerly.

"The DuPont country club," Grandpa said with a contented smile, "It was where your Nonna and I met all those years ago."

"You see, your grandfather worked at the club," Nonna said, a girlish grin on her face making her look years younger, "He was a bartender and all the girls wanted him to dance with them. Now the employees weren't allowed to interact with the customers more than small talk and giving them drinks."

"But when I saw this little lady, I couldn't say no," Grandpa said and Nonna's grin grew, "We danced all night and while we were closing up, I was fired."

"Ouch," I said with a chuckle, "What happened?"

"Luckily enough I got her number," said Grandpa, "I called her, we went out for many months and I asked her to marry me. She never knew I got fired until I told her right before I proposed to her."

"You can only imagine my shock for both matters," Nonna giggled, "There's actually a celebration at the country club for all those who served in World War II and their family. Would you mind going?"

"Of course I'd like to!" I said happily, "Only I didn't bring anything dressy to wear."

"It's very casual," Grandpa said, "Now go and change. We need to leave in half an hour."

I nodded and ran up to my new room. Obviously it wasn't as big as my old room but I liked it. I had a twin bed with a well-worn bedside table to by right and an old sailor trunk at the end of my bed. The closet was full of summer clothes because this room was used as storage.

The phone rang and I froze in the act of pulling my shirt over my head. Quietly, I snuck to the top of the stairs and listened as my Nonna picked up the phone.

"Hello? Richard, how are you dear?" My dad's name was Richard. "Yes, she's here safe and sound. Calm down Rick, she's perfectly fine. Can you talk to her? I don't think that's the best thing to do…Don't use that tone with me young man! She told me everything she's been through and I am shocked at your behavior. Ignoring your daughters' pleas to be there, to converse with your family! I hope that this is just a phase Richard because I know you are not like this normally. Mmhm…I know…yes, I'll be sure to tell her…whenever she's ready to go back…I love you too son, bye."

I snuck back into my room and closed the door silently. I went over to my bed and sat down, leaning my head against the frame. My door opened and Nonna came in. She saw me on the bed and sighed, coming to sit next to me.

"Your father loves you very much, you do know that right?" she asked.

"I know he does, I just wish my mother felt the same way."

"She does," Nonna said fervently, "She loves you just like your father does."

"Funny way of showing it," I said bitterly, "Nonna, the only things she cares about are the twins and herself. She…she was going to get breast implants. I could take the hair and the attitude but not that, anything but that. To her, the rest of the family is dirt."

"Shh, don't say those things," Nonna said, pulling me close and patting my back gently, "You just need some time away. You know what your dad told me?" I shook my head. "He said he's giving the twins the punishment of a lifetime. No TV, cell phones, parties, or anything but school for the next three months. As for your mother, she's not getting any surgery."

I looked up and saw my Nonna smiling at me. She told me we were leaving so we all went into the car and drove to the country club. Upon arrival, a valet took our car and we walked inside.

"We're going into the ballroom on the right," Grandpa said, looking at the invitation, "It says that the owner of DuPont enterprises will be here to give a speech."

"Oh really? Who's that?" Nonna asked curiously.

"She's a woman who lives in England," Grandpa said, reading the description about her, "Her husband was the owner but he died a few years ago. Her nephew helps her run it and will take over everything when she passes on."

"I guess this cousin works over here then?" I asked, "I mean, how would they know how things run here if they live in England?"

We arrived in the ballroom and found our seat. I met a lot of new people, none of whom were under the age of sixty-five. It was nice to see this place and everything but I eventually became rather bored. I excused myself and told my grandparents I would be back in a bit. I saw a field by the golf course and walked over to it.

There has always been something about nature that comforted me. Now I promise I won't go all Thoreau on you and start talking about how everyone should live in a log cabin without indoor pluming or whatever, but everyone should at least experience a sunrise and a sunset. Personally I think Thoreau took naturalism too far.

As I looked back at the country club, I saw three people standing outside on the porch to the ballroom. They were too far for me to see anything except one of them was old and in a wheelchair. It was probably one of the older men inside who needed some air. I wasn't surprised, the ballroom was so hot because of all the people.

Shuddering, I wrapped my arms around myself. I had forgotten just how cold it was outside and left my heavy jacket in coat check. I had a long-sleeved shirt on and jeans, but I was still cold. It was the end of December after all.

I felt a jacket on my shoulders and turned, expecting to see my Grandpa or Nonna putting my jacket on me. However, it wasn't them.

"David?" I asked, backing away slightly as his jacket slipped off my shoulders, "What are you doing here?"

"I'm with my aunt," he said with his hands behind his back, "She owns all of this."

"Whoa there, hold on," I said with wide eyes, "Your aunt is the owner of DuPont? Do you know how big that company is?"

"Yes, as a matter of fact I do," he replied none too friendly.

"Right, I forgot that must be where you get your wealth from," I said, turning cold instantly. I went to take his jacket off my shoulders but he held up his hand.

"It's too cold out here for you not to have anything on," he said.

"I was just going in," I replied angrily, taking off the jacket and shoving it into his hands, "Thanks for your concern."

"What are you doing here anyway?" he called after me as I walked away.

"That isn't any of your business, is it?" I snapped over my shoulder.

"No, I guess it isn't."

I turned around and saw him standing there holding his jacket over his arm. Frowning, I sighed audibly.

"I'm with my grandparents, my grandfather is a war veteran. Don't expect to see any of my other family, they're not here. And if you think I'll tell you why then you're crazier than I thought."

I continued my walk back to the building when I heard him call something else out to me. I didn't hear it so I looked back again.

"What?" I yelled.

"I'm sorry," he said loudly.

I didn't know what to say to that. Why was he apologizing? What was he getting at? I tried to speak but nothing came out so I just turned around and went back to the party. I didn't see David the rest of the time, but I did get the opportunity to meet his aunt and cousin.

They were proud people and I could definitely see where David got his arrogance from. His aunt was very weak and had to be pushed around in a wheelchair but that didn't stop her from being open about everything she hated in life. She ranted to us about everything from illegal immigrants to the difference in ketchup companies. As for the cousin, he was in his late teens or early twenties and never spoke a word except to tell the old woman to keep her voice down and when it was time to go.

"What a bitter woman," Nonna said as the two British people left.

"You think she's bad, you haven't met her nephew," I said as we got our coats from coat check, "He's the most arrogant, self-centered…"

I stopped when I saw the man I was badmouthing standing right outside the doors. He turned and bowed at the sight of us. I introduced David to my grandparents and we stood in awkward silence until the valet came with our car.

"A pleasure to meet you two," David said as he helped me into the car, "And to see you again Emily."

"Thanks," I said with a nod as he closed the door.

We drove home in silence and Nonna made us all something hot to drink. As I sipped my hot chocolate, it was then the subject of David came up.

"He seems like a fine young lad," Nonna said, "I don't know why you were saying all those things about him Emily."

"He only acts like that when there are other people around. He doesn't want to offend those who actually have power over him."

"He helped you into the car though," Grandpa noted as looked up from his paper, "That was very gentleman-like."

"Only because he didn't want to look like a jerk in front of you all," I said, "He knows that you would like a guy who acts like a gentleman and not some hooligan!"

"Well, you know him better than we do dear," Nonna said with a sigh, "But I am usually a good judge of character and he seemed sincerely nice."

"I thought I was a good judge of character too," I whispered, "Until Brian turned around and was a complete jerk to Jess."

"We all make mistakes," Nonna said as she placed a hand on my shoulder, "Don't blame yourself about Brian. It's not your fault."

I nodded and went up to bed. There are some days I wish the entire male population would just jump off a cliff. They sure as hell could complicate lives.

Author's Note: I hope you enjoyed this chapter, I have so much fun writing this! I have some bad news for you all, I'm sorry to tell you that I'm going away and won't be back until July 6th. That means I won't be able to update until I get back. I'll try to update tomorrow but if I can't, I hope my double update today will make up for it. I promise to update as soon as I get back. Thank you to all my loyal fans out there and I'm going to miss you guys!